Hot Glass Festival

Thousands of people will converge on Staunton this week for what will, no doubt, be the hottest event in the nation.

Thirteen years ago, Caroline Sheridan and her husband Doug opened a glass blowing studio in an old Staunton warehouse, and despite a lengthy recession that bankrupted many a business, their enterprise – called Sunspots Glass Studios – has grown steadily as tourists ventured off the highway.

Up to 5,000 visitors are expected during this weekend’s Hot Glass Festival – a free event that will showcase two dozen glass artists from around the country.